Clamping device for covers of cooking vessels



July 1, 1930. 3. KOCHER 1,759,696

CLAMPING DEVICE FOR COVERS OF COOKING VESSELS Filed Dec. 26,v 1928 INVENTOR. ALFRED 6'. K0 c/mz A TTORNEYS Patented July 1, 1930 arsnr rarer.

ALFRED KOCI-IER, OF. WEST BEND, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO EST BEND ALU- MIN'UM COMPANY, OF WEST BEND, VTISCONQIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN CLAMIPING- nnvicn FOR coves-s or COOKING vnssELs Application filed. December 26, 1828. Serial No. 328,448.

My invention relates to vessels usedfor cooking and for other purposes, to which a cover may be readily applied so as to complete the closure of the same, and as readily be removed therefrom, so as to give access to the contents of the vessel, or the placing of the same therein. It resides in a clamping device adapted to securely fasten the cover upon the vessel, when it is desired to use the latter with the cover thereon, as in waterless cooking, in which it is highly beneficial to conserve the substantialproperties of the vapors generated in cooking and prevent their escape into the atmosphere. The construction of the clamping device is such that when applied to its intended use, it is made to engage for the time being both the cover and the vessel and to effectively secure the cover in position upon the vessel. The clamping member is easily placed in clamping position, and as easily removed therefrom. It is constituted as a separate element, without permanent attachment to either the vessel or the cover, and may be laid aside when, in certain use of the vessel, the use of an unattached cover is sufiicient.

In its practical operation, the clamping device is engaged with the upper surface of a portion of the cover, andwith the under surface of a portion of the vessel, so as to efiectively seal the parts in their meeting line.

Having thus outlined the nature andpur- I V poses of the invention, I -w1ll now describe specifically the illustrated embodiments thereof, and in the appended claims will point out the novel features residing in the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional View, on a line near the center, of the upper portion of a cooking vessel and its cover, with my improved clamping device applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the employment of a modified form of clamping device.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp ing device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. is a like view of the modified clamping device shown in Fig. 2.

in the drawing, the numeral 10 indicatesa drawn or spun sheet metal vessel, broken out at its lower side to save space, the vertical side walls of which are outturned at the upper end to provide a circular seat 11, and

then Lip-turned for a short distance as at 12,

the wall being preferably finished with a rolled rim 13, acting as a reinforcement for the open mouth of the vessel.

he cover M, which may be formed in a similar manner, is provided with a depending circular wall 15, finished preferably at, its lower edge by means of a roller bead 16, which is adapted to rest upon the circular seat .11 at the top of the vessel.

In the process of cooking according to what is now known as the waterless way, it is of material benefit to conservethe mineral and other beneficial properties of the articles being cooked, and which unlessconfined, will pass away in the vapors generated during the cooking operation. By securing a cover tightlyin place upon the Vessel, the vapors are not permitted to escape, but are condensed in their contact with the inside surface of the cover, and are caused to flow back into the vessel. This condensation contributes materially to the improvement of the fiavor and food value of the articles being cooked.

The clamping device, by'the use of which I am enabled in a very expeditious mannerto secure the cover tightly upon the vessel,

may be as illustratedin either Figs. '3 and 4, or otherwise, within the scope of'my invention. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, an elongated bearing plate 17 having a'dependable leg 18 and a foot 19, is shaped so that the plate 17 and leg 18. will lie closely againstthe'top margin of thecover and the outer surface of the depending wall15, with the foot 19 resting upon the bead 16., At ope .posite points intermediate the ends of the plate 17, the latter is formed with two upstandingrears 20 and 21, which are pierced til transversely forthe reception of'a pin 22. v

The pin 22 servesas a pivot for a hook-member 23, extending outwardly and downwardly, so aslto'pa's's the bead13' on the vessel, and

then bent inwardly so as to extend, as at 24, in the plane of the lower side of the seat 11 on the vessel. The hook member 23 is resilient and its in-turned end 24 is made to engage the vessel in the manner described with considerable pressure, by the action of the foot 19 upon the rim 16 and thus effectively seal the cover upon the vessel. From the point of its contact with the vessel, the end of the hook member 23 is bent so as to lie approximately parallel to the vertical wall of the vessel with which it contacts, and is then out-turned as at 25, so as to permit the disengagement of the parts to be easily effected.

In operation, as the vessel has been provided with articles to be cooked, the cover is Iaced thereon, and two or more of the clam m devices embodying my invention are apphed to secure the cover upon the vessel. The

late17 lies in a radius of the cover, and the oot li of the plate rests upon the head 16, amisubstantially fills the space separating the tip-standing wall 12 of the vessel and the depending wall 15 of the cover. The pivoted 25 book member 23, is then snapped into place,

with the in-turned angular end 24. in enment under the seat 11 of the vessel. It is preferable that the clamping members employed he s aced at points substantially 3o equidistant a at the circumference of the vessel. Outward pressure upon the lower ends 25 will disengage the hook members 23 upon the vessel. The clamping members can then be removed from position and the as cover taken ofi from the vessel.

Figs. 2 and 4 present a simplification of my invention, in which the clamping member is constituted as a single part, instead of a twopart construction, as in Figs. 1 and 3.

The principle of operation, however, is the same as before. In its modified form, the foot 19 is extended inwardly, and the position of the leg 18 with relation tothe cover is reversed so that the said leg, instead of bearing against the depending wall 15 of the covetyiscaused-to bear against theinside of the If: ding wall 12. The strip from which t clamping member shown in Figs. 2and 4 is formedJ'is bent outwardly from the top w oithe leg 18, as at 30, so as to clear the bead 130i the vessel, and then downwardly as at 31, and then ill-turned to present the angular engaging and 24. The drawing illustrates :thepperation of the modified form, in which as the feet and leg are entered into the space iflte 'engsgement with the underside of the seat 11 oi the vessel, to thus secure the cover IQ in position. In other respects the operations of the clampingmembers of different forms,

s, the; same. The vessel may be provided wlhhanmutomatically operated valve, indiui -Preferably, the plate 17 and the hook mem n the walls 12 and 15, after which thebers of both forms of construction, are constructed from fiat metal strips. In all of its forms the hook member is made from resilient material, in order that it may function properl fiaving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secute by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A clamping device for a cookin utensil embodying avessel and a cover or closing a vessel, and said clamping device comprising an unattached plate adapted to bear upon the cover of the vessel, and a resilient hook pivoted to the said plate and adapted to engage the vessel, whereby the clamping hook may yield in the operation of securing the cover upon the vessel.

2. A cooking vessel the upstanding wall of which is outturned to form a seat or a cover, and then continue upwardly to form a circular recess, and acover having a depending wall resting in said recess and upon the said seat, in combination with an unattached resilient clamping device one part of which is entered in said recess and bears upon the cover and another part of which engages under the said seat to secure the cover in position uponthe vessel, and whereby the clamping device may yield in the operation of securing the cover upon the vessel.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name at West Bend, Wisconsin, this 13th day of December, 1928.

ALFRED C. KOCHER. 

